Eveeett b



(No Model.)

E. B. PRESTON.

l Shoes. I No. 234,723. Patented N ov. 23,1830.

N. PETERS. PMoToL|THOGHAPHER. WASHXNGTONA D C,

UNITED STATES EVERE'IT B. PRESTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,723, dated November23, 1880,

Application filed September 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom t'tmay concern Be it known that I, Evnnn'r'r B. PRESTON, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shoes of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of shoes, andthe same is more particularly adapted to use upon what are usually knownas Arctic overshoes.

'Ihe object of this invention is to provide a means for putting on andoff the shoe which shall render the aperture for the insertion of thefoot readily and sufciently expansible, and at the same time perfectlyexclude the snow and water when the shoe is secured upon the foot andtheinvention consists in providing the shoe with an opening centrallydown the instep, which opening is filled with an expansible foldinggore, folding upon the outside of the shoe, with a fold or win g at eachside of the central opening, so that the folding gore lies symmetricallyupon the instep, and, in conjunction therewith, a means of fastening theshoe, consisting of a strap passing from one quarter of the shoe to theother, outside of the folding gore.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure l is a perspective View of the shoe. Fig. 2 is a section fromfrontto rear of the same, on the line of the fastening-strap. Fig. 3 isa top view of the shoe, showing the folding gore and upper part of theshoe expanded in position to admit the foot.

In said. drawings, A is an opening or slit centrally down the instep, topermit the expansion of the shoe for the insertion of thel foot. B is agore, with two wings, b b, symmetrically folding down upon the instep. Cis the fastening-strap, secured to one quarter of the shoe, passing overthe folding-gore to the buckle D, secured to the other quarter or sideof the shoe.

It will be noticed that the opening for the expansion of the shoe-top inmy shoe is symmetrical down the central line of the instep, whichrenders a shoe having high quarters, such as Arctic overshoes usuallyhave, more easily put on and off than when the opening is down one orboth sides. The expansible gore folds entirely' upon the outside of theshoe, leaving the interior perfectly smooth, so that it feels morecomfortable to the foot than when the gore or any part of it is foldedinteriorly. Moreover, I am thus enabled to use a single gore and obtaina symmetrical structure which will not interfere, in the case of malewearers, with the neat fit or set of the bottoms ofthe pantaloons; andmy improved shoe not only perfectly excludes the snow, but is also avery neat, strong, and durable construction of shoe.

WhatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The shoe having a central slit down the front of the instep, anexpansible folding gore, constructed as shown, secured to the outside ofthe shoe at either side of said slit, and arranged to fold entirelyoutside the shoe, and a fastening-strap extending from one quarter orside of the shoe to the other and over the, folded gore, substantiallyas set forth.

EVERET'I B. PRESTON.

Witnesses:

J. H. THOMPSON, G. W. E. PRESTON.

